Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Standard Vanguard Head Studs

This is my first post on TalkMorgan. I recently acquired a 1953 +4 with its engine out. I already have a TR3, TR6 and Triumph Renown. I've been through my TR3 engine twice and know my way around.
On my Morgan, its original Standard Vanguard engine appears to have two slightly bent head studs and the rest of the 62 year old studs are pretty corroded. It looks like Moss sells some of the head studs still. I checked the ARP website to see if they had a kit or something and they don't. I would like to get new and uprated head studs and nuts. Does anyone know of a source? I wonder if there is a website to order custom studs. I also checked with MorganSpares and they only had the later TR3 studs...
I am still sorting through boxes to see what comes with the car.
Thanks,

-Bill in Tehachapi, CA

Bill, try contacting the Standard Motor Club:
http://www.standardmotorclub.org.uk/spares_scheme.html

Welcome from cloudy Wales. Try Terry Foxen at GEE.

Welcome, Bill.

I can't help with new studs, but I have several old Vanguard engines and might be able to replace bent studs. (However, these engines were in a back yard for years.)

An obvious solution would be to get new studs through the Triumph Razoredge Owners Club, but their insurance won't allow them to sell to parts to their American and Canadian members.

Most owners of Vanguard-powered Plus Fours have replaced their Vanguard engines with TR3 or TR4 engines. Alternatively, one owner kept his Vanguard block but replaced the cylinder head with a TR3 head. (This is my current plan for my own 1953 +4.) Since this approach should be relatively straightforward for you, I'm guessing that you want originality more than performance?

Pat

Yeah, I like the thought of the original engine. The previous owner (my best bud) has several TR3 and TR4 engines that I can have, but I want this Morgan to have the original Standard Vanguard block. The bonnet is original/unmodified so it won't take dual SU's without making a hole, scoop or power bulge.

Turns out that the TR2 head studs that Moss sells are way different than the Standard Vanguard studs and won't work.

My block looks like it fell on its side at some point before I got it and the studs on that side are bent. I imagined having to have a set custom made. I called ARP (Automotive Racing Products http://arp-bolts.com/ ) and talked to them. When I said the words “Morgan” and “Standard Vanguard” you could hear the crickets. They wanted to send me to the “custom fabrication” phone. I told the guy that what I needed was 7/16th’s studs, coarse on one side and fine on the other, 5” long. He said “Oh, that’s the head stud kit for a small block Ford”. He made me up a custom kit. Studs, nuts, washers, assembly lube and torqueing instructions came for $75. The studs look great and I am ecstatic.
Taking the block in Dec 18th to be line bored to accept replaceable cam bearings. I’ll probably be getting the parts back towards the end of January and begin building the engine.
I hope that this helps anyone else trying to rebuild an original Standard Vanguard engine.

-Bill

WOW!! You're starting to turn me toward rebuilding my Vanguard instead of using a TR engine...

I'll spread the word to several flat rad friends on the East Coast. This might be interesting to the American Renown group too.

Yep, I also own a 52 Renown and have posted it on the Renown Faceboook page. I still need to post it to the Renowns Yahoo group. Did you see my post on line-boring the Standard Vanguard block? I also have plans to prototype/fabricate an aluminum intake manifold so you can put a Holley/Webber two barrel downdraft carb on the SV engine. Should kick up the HP a bit without having to go to a TR3 engine.